zvuk

Zvuk is a term meaning sound in several Slavic languages, notably Russian and Ukrainian. In a broader sense, zvuk refers to audible vibrations that propagate as waves.

Sound is produced when a body vibrates, generating pressure fluctuations that move through a medium such as air, water, or solids. These fluctuations are characterized by frequency (pitch), amplitude (loudness), and waveform.

The speed of sound depends on the medium and conditions; at 20°C, air transmits sound at about 343 meters per second. Humans hear roughly 20 Hz to 20 kHz; the perceived loudness depends on sound level, measured in decibels.

In engineering and science, acoustics studies sound generation, transmission, and perception, with applications in music, audio recording, sonar, and noise control. Noise pollution and hearing protection are important considerations in environments with high sound levels.

Etymology traces "zvuk" to Proto-Slavic roots; cognates appear in East Slavic languages with similar meaning. The term is used in linguistics and everyday speech to describe sonic phenomena.